Anti-violence Study Backed Cautiously

September 14, 1993|by JOHN P. MARTIN, The Morning Call

A task force that delivered 39 recommendations to curb school violence last night won cautious praise from the Bethlehem Area School Board and an edict to narrow the options and form plans to implement them.

The recommendations, part of a 105-page report, call for changes in nearly every facet of the schools, including requiring personality assessment tests when hiring; establishing a mandatory parenting curriculum; launching an anti-violence public awareness campaign and equipping some buildings with surveillance cameras and, occasionally, metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs.

The six board members who attended the work session at Liberty High School offered little feedback, but more praise then concern for the task force recommendations.

Each board member suggested, however, that he or she would support a "zero-tolerance" policy on weapons in the schools that punishes violators with expulsion.

"It's a no-brainer," said board member Edward Gallagher.

Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli, one of 70 task force members, urged the board to enact such a policy, joining other districts such as Easton and Bangor.

"We're seeing more and more guns coming into our schools," he said to the crowd comprised mainly of district officials and task force members. "Quite frankly, a strong message has to be sent."

But punishment was just one of the messages considered. Education, mediation and awareness were others.

"Just as computer literacy is a requirement, parenting should also be a requirement for all students," said Nancy Bouis, a counselor at East Hills and a member of the task force.

Jack Wittenberger, the assistant supervisor for buildings and grounds, co-chaired the task force committee that studied security needs. It called for hall monitors at the high schools, video-camera surveillance at the elementary schools, identification badges for students, staff and visitors, and occasional unannounced locker inspections, drug-dog sweeps and use of metal detectors.

At 12 of the 16 district elementary schools, Wittenberger said, "Anybody can really walk into these buildings and go anywhere."

Board member Barbara Huth expressed a "slight uneasiness" about the authority the district was being asked to impose.

"I hope that no matter what program we put in place, we're still going to treat our students and staff with respect," she said.

While officials stressed that not all the recommendations won uniform support, they said that each was within the bounds of the district.

"If students know that we have the right to do them, then it acts as a deterrent," said Frances Bentkowski, an assistant principal at Freedom High School.

Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem, who headed the task force, said some members will reconvene in coming weeks to narrow the recommendations and return to the board with proposals. Among the priorities, she said, will be a draft of a zero-tolerance policy.

Huth also asked for the group to compile violence-related statistics, which the school district does not regularly do.

"I'd like to know as a board member what it is that's happening in our schools so I know what we're trying to stop," she said.

Still to be considered is the cost to implement any recommendations. The task force was community-based; so must the funding be, board members said.

"The stamp of approval has to come not only from the Bethlehem Area School Board, but also from the community," McCarthy said.